Press Release: HORRIFIED Cast Joins Terror Jr for New Lie To Me Music Video
Michael Zara directs Julie Benz and an ensemble of his upcoming horror comedy feature film HORRIFIED stars alongside American pop duo Terror Jr, bringing together film, music and a remarkable roster of talent ahead of the horror-comedy’s debut. Of course, interviews, previews, and more are available!
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Music Video Shoot
Before the killer comes out to play in the upcoming horror-comedy Horrified, much of its cast is getting together again for something completely different, yet very much related to the film itself, as writer-director Michael Zara is directing a new music video for Terror Jr’s Lie To Me, bringing the acclaimed music project together with fan favorite Julie Benz (Roswell, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Rambo, Dexter, No Ordinary Family, Defiance, and many more titles) and numerous members of the cast of HORRIFIED.
The video stars Lisa Vitale and David Singer-Vine of Terror Jr, alongside Horrified cast members Julie Benz, Jason Behr, Kearran Giovanni, Jessica Meraz, Alexandra Harris, Jay Donnell, Stephen Wu and Colleen Smith. They are joined by Brooke Theiss, who enthralled horror audiences in A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master and who will also be appearing in Horrified.
The finished video for Lie To Me is currently scheduled for release across platforms on October 23, and of course we will be able to get you advance pictures, snippets, interviews, and more!
The unique collaboration provides an early opportunity to introduce audiences to the people and creative talent behind Horrified, ahead of being presented to distributors worldwide.
Terror Jr Meets Horrified
Power pop duo Terror Jr already comes with a considerable pop-culture pedigree and an impressive 5-album discography, released in a span of just 5 years, with new single Fourth Strike reaching the number 27 spot in the Official Aotearoa Music Charts last yet. The group first attracted enormous attention through its association with Kylie Jenner, thanks to one of their songs – 3 Strikes – appearance in Jenner’s highly publicized 2016 Glosses promotional video, initially fuelling widespread speculation about who was behind the then-mysterious project. Since then, Terror Jr has developed its own distinctive identity and audience through its acclaimed blend of alternative pop and electronic music.
Now Lie To Me brings that musical world together with Horrified… And we’re not talking about a promotional video assembled around footage from the movie. Instead, Michael Zara is directing the music video as its own stand-alone production, bringing back numerous performers from Horrified and to star alongside Terror Jr – an original extension of the creative relationships that made the film itself possible.
Michael Zara Brings Together an Extraordinary Roster of Top-Notch Talent
The explosion of acting ability and set experience is immediately apparent from the upcoming film's cast, as Horrified is led by Julie Benz, known worldwide as Rita Bennett in Dexter and Darla in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel. She is joined by Busy Philipps, whose credits include Freaks and Geeks, Dawson’s Creek, Cougar Town and Girls5eva; Ron Perlman, Hollywood Hellboy, Hellboy II: The Golden Army and Sons of Anarchy star; and Jim Rash, the Emmy-nominated Community favorite who won an Academy Award for co-writing The Descendants… and that’s not even where it ends!
The cast also includes yet another SF/fantasy/convention fave in the shape of the always fun-loving Doug Jones, whose extraordinary genre career encompasses multiple award-winning movies like Pan’s Labyrinth, The Shape of Water, Hellboy and Star Trek: Discovery; Friday Night Lights and Scream 4 star Aimeé Teegarden, and none other than Jason Behr, best known to genre audiences from Roswell and The Grudge.
Additional cast members include Allison Dunbar, Kearran Giovanni, Jessica Meraz, Alexandra Harris, Harry Jowsey, Cody Mayo, Birdie Silverstein, Jude Barnett, Jay Donnell, and others.
Model Ivory Night, who will be starring in the upcoming satirical retro-Sci-Fi film Ivory Night at the Center of the Galaxy, based on the comic book featured in the music video, first presented in semi-finished form at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, will also be making a cameo appearance in the film.
The film features three songs from Terror Jr, including “Lie To Me” and artists like Nezza, SEVNDEEP, and Virgin Miri. The score is by 8-time Emmy-winning David Klotz, currently composing Ryan Murphy’s hit series, The Shards. The film’s producer, Randy Wayne, emphasizes that Zara was instrumental in making that possible, stating: ‘If it wasn’t for Mike, we never would have gotten this level of talent in music.’
A Horror-Comedy About… Horror
Behind the music-video collaboration sits an independent feature with an appropriately self-aware (and somewhat self-referential) premise. Written and directed by Michael Zara, Horrified follows well-named Jamie Jaymes (Julie Benz), a former scream queen who returns to the horror-convention circuit looking to make some quick money.
There's just one problem: A killer connected to the franchise that made her famous has apparently decided that murder shouldn't remain confined to the movies.
What begins as another convention appearance consequently turns into the kind of horror story Jamie thought she had left behind. The setup allows Zara to play with the conventions of the slasher movie while simultaneously exploring aspects even the rare other films that feature a meta approach to the genre fail to cover: horror fandom, celebrity culture, conventions, and the unusual relationship between performers and the fictional characters that can follow them throughout their careers… and if you’ve ever visited a Sci-Fi/fantasy/horror convention, you probably know exactly what we mean!
Made by an Independent Team with Serious Credentials
Horrified is being produced through Rebellium Films and Ghost Bunni Productions, with the involvement of The Art of Elysium’s EB Studios. The production team includes producers Randy Wayne, Talia Bella and Michael Zara, alongside Jennifer Howell of The Art of Elysium/EB Studios (a nonprofit organization serving as the project's fiscal sponsor). Peter Salladé – also writer-director of the aforementioned Ivory Night at the Center of the Galaxy – serves as an Executive Producer on the film.
Zara comes to Horrified an accomplished Hollywood creative after writing for the acclaimed crime series Major Crimes (recently added to Netflix) and creating the hilarious holiday horror-comedy Letters to Satan Claus, and Horrified marks his feature directorial debut.
More About the Cast
The ensemble gives HORRIFIED an unusually broad range of potential audiences – here’s just a quick overview of some of the titles our actors have been involved in, but, wow, there’s way more – just open up IMDb to find out!
Julie Benz brings acclaimed performances in beloved franchises like Dexter, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Rambo and Saw V.
Ron Perlman brings decades of genre history through projects including Hellboy, Sons of Anarchy, Alien Resurrection, Blade II and Pacific Rim.
Busy Philipps has built an extensive captivating comedy and television following through some of the most impactful shows ever to hit audiences, such as Freaks and Geeks, Dawson’s Creek, Cougar Town and Girls5eva. Her new series, Cupertino, premieres this October on CBS.
Jim Rash combines cult-comedy recognition from Community with an enviable Academy Award-winning screenwriting career that includes The Descendants and The Way, Way Back. His film, Miss You, Love You, starring Allison Janney, was recently nominated for an Emmy.
Doug Jones has embodied some of modern fantasy cinema's most memorable characters within the fantastic genre in Pan’s Labyrinth, Hellboy and The Shape of Water.
Aimeé Teegarden is widely known for her brilliant performances in yet another ground-breaking series (Friday Night Lights), while horror audiences will also recognize her from Scream 4.
Allison Dunbar (The Groundlings, Yellowstone and The Sopranos), recently went viral for her performances in the social media sensations, The Chit Show and VHS DATES.
Jason Behr remains a cult favorite thanks to Roswell, but also very successfully spun theatrical horror with The Grudge.
Finally, Kearran Giovanni and Jessica Meraz share another connection with Zara through Major Crimes.
Rather than attempting to tell the entire story before Horrified is ready for release, the Lie To Me video offers audiences an early taste of the awe-inspiring creative community Zara has assembled around the movie.
The Next Chapter Is Coming to You In October
Lie To Me provides the first opportunity to see many members of this remarkable cast together outside the film. The official music video is scheduled for release on October 23.
Press & Media Opportunities
Badass PR is coordinating international press opportunities surrounding Horrified and the Lie To Me music-video collaboration. Journalists, bloggers, vloggers, podcasters, YouTubers, influencers, music publications, horror outlets, entertainment media, radio and television interested in the project are invited to contact us.
Current editorial opportunities include coverage of:
The Terror Jr Lie To Me music video
Michael Zara directing the video
The reunion of numerous HORRIFIED cast members
Terror Jr and its connection to the film
The remarkable independent cast assembled by Michael Zara
Music and composing talent behind HORRIFIED
Behind-the-scenes coverage of the music-video production
Michael Zara's transition from television writer to feature director
The making of an independent horror-comedy with established Hollywood talent
Interviews with participating talent, subject to availability and production approval
Further press opportunities surrounding HORRIFIED itself will follow as the feature is completed and its distribution plans develop.
International Press Contact
As always, please direct all requests to:
Badass PR
Dirk Vandereyken
CEO — Badass PR
COO — Association of European Journalists (Belgium)
Chief Editor • Journalist • PR Consultant
E-mail: dirk@badasspr.com
WhatsApp: +32 (0)494 38 27 44
Website: www.badasspr.com
International press, interview, music, entertainment, horror, podcast, broadcast, blogger, vlogger and influencer enquiries are welcome, so don’t hesitate to get back to us!!!
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